The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-21
IS 1T NOT TAUGHT9

1t is sometimes alleged by those who
take roseate views of the progress of
religious enlightenment in this age,
that the doctrine of eternal damnation
is no longer taught in the churches.
The assertion is altogether too sweep
ing to meet the facts in the case. I'm
doubleday in many influential quarters
the doctrine is ignored and outgrown,
and there is no question as to the gem
eral drift of progress in this direction;
but the dying belief'' is not yet dead,
by any means, and every little while we
come across evidence that it still exists
and is taught in all its horrible fulness.
We have an instance of this in the
Sunday school paper, called The Pearl,
issued in this city in the interest of
one of the orthodox denominations.
from which we take the following as an
example of how some of the orthodox
churches instill this most dreadful be-
lief into the minds of children. The
article is one of series on doctrines"
and the question is asked, ''Do you
know children, what it is that usually
first stirs up persons to seeks religion ?'
The answer comes, short and sharp, sit
is the fear of hell" Then follows a
few Scripture questions, and the lesson
on doctrine is illustrated in the follow
ing audacious and blasphemous manner:
Let us see some of the things which
Gods word teaches about hell! 1t is
most terrible place. 1t is called place
"where their worm dieth not and their
fire is not quenched." 1t is as though
| you had some worm or serpent continu-
ally gnawing at you, and it would never
cease to gnaw; and you are burned with
fire and that fire never put out. In this
life il we are burned in a great fire our
bodies will soon die. But in the eternal
world our souls can never die, or cease to
exist. You know how it hurts to burn
your finger little in the fire, but the
wicked are to be cast into lake of fire.
But does the Bible mean real fire, just
such as we have in our stoves? 1t does,
or it means something which God knows
is as bad as fire. If this is not SO, then
God tries to deceive us, which we know
is not true.
In this world we often have pain, but
it is only for little time, bat the pains
Of hell will never cease. Just try and
think what it will be to be in hell forever.
"These shall go away into everlasting
punishment The smoke of their tor
ment ascendeth up forever and ever"
If you should go to hell you would be
there as many years as there are leaves
on the trees and blades of grass; as the
drops Of water in the sea and grains of
sand on the shore; as many as the feath-
ers on the birds, and hairs on the backs of
the animals. Then you would be no
nearer the end then when you began.
There is no use looking for the end of
thing which no end. And that is the
meaning of Standardization without
end. 1t is the same word used to express
the length of Gods life
LAOIO 10 uO COULOIb db I'll LII Hell. 4u6
rich man spoken of in Luke xvi. wanted
a drop of water only to cool his tongue,
but it was denied him.
One VINO is in hell has the right use of
his mind. He remembers his many
chances to get saved which he had in this
world. He has no hope of ever being re-
leased. He has no friend to help him, for
all are as bad off as himself. He would
like to flee from the presence OF God, but
he is tormented sin the presence of the
angels of the Lamb" "It make my
bed in hell, thou art there" He remem-
bers all his sins, and sees how they were
without excuse. He sees that he alone
is to blame for all his misery. He is lost!
LOST! LOSTl and lost FOR EVER
Not since the publication of Father
Furniss's "Sight of Help have we seen
such medieval description of the tor
ments of hell, as is contained in the
above extract. 1t almost passes belief
that such teachings are openly advo-
Gated in this enlightened age, and made
part of the instruction of a Christian
church to its children and youth. We
have carefully examined this Pearl, to
discover what church it represents, or
that authorizes this horrible teaching,
but there is no responsible body named.
The presumption is that the paper is
made by parties who wish to secure a
general circulation among orthodox
Sunday We reproduce the ex-
tract that our people may recognize at
short range the style of doctrines still
taught in the Christian church, and re-
garded as fit pabulum for "babes in
Christ" When such teachings are still
boldly presented as doctrines " of
Christianity, who dare say that there is
no longer a necessity among Univers-
alists for doctrinal preaching, or that
our protest against the enormities of
the old creeds is of no further utility ?
WRATH OF GOD.